Ja Morant a Game-Time Decision for Grizzlies Ahead of Play-In Showdown vs. Mavericks

Ja Morant is a game-time decision for Friday's play-in game vs. the Mavericks as Dallas eyes the No. 8 seed and Memphis faces elimination amid key injuries.

Photo: Memphis Grizzlies

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for their final shot at the postseason, all eyes are on Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star did not practice on Thursday. It will be a game-time decision for Friday night’s play-in game at FedExForum, with the winner earning the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.

Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo emphasized that while Morant is pushing to play, his availability remains uncertain ahead of Friday’s tipoff (8:30 p.m. CT).

“My feel with him is he'll do absolutely everything in order to play,” Iisalo said. “If he's physically able to do it, he will do it. It's a legitimate gametime decision.”

Morant injured his right ankle with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter of Tuesday’s 121-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The injury occurred when he landed on the foot of Warriors guard Buddy Hield after releasing a floater. Officials reviewed the play for a possible flagrant foul but ruled no hostile act had occurred.

Morant returned to the game with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter and played the rest of the way, but he was clearly limited. He avoided landing on his right ankle, lacked his usual explosiveness, and attempted his final shot with 3:44 remaining. In the most crucial moment of the game, he struggled to break free for an inbound pass on the final possession, resulting in a five-second violation.

“If he feels he's good to go, we have full trust in him,” Iisalo said. “He's also a very good judge of how and if he's ready to go or not. I'm leaning on the experts in this situation, which clearly I'm not in the medical department.”

Following the game, Morant insisted he plans to play.